Search Results for: blog be aware of online dangers

Health Dangers for Videogame Junkies

I have to admit that I do have a videogame junkie living in my home. If I don’t monitor and control his playing time, we could probably go days without hearing a peep from him. While the obsession with playing videogames is oftentimes something joked about, the recent health scare of a 15-year-old in Ohio should raise the alarm. After spending four days in his bedroom playing the game, “Modern Warfare 3,” he ended up having to be hospitalized for dehydration. He was so consumed with playing that he wasn’t getting enough liquids. It was so serious that he actually … Continue reading →

Most Teens Hide What They Do Online

A few months ago I attended a parenting class at my church. One of the dads was expressing how it is our job to monitor our teen’s use of technology. Of course that makes sense, right? But as I pointed out, it isn’t always so easy. Let’s face it…teens usually know more about technology than we do. That means they can get around things. For instance, some parents look at the computer’s history to see which websites their children have been on. But most kids know how to clear out their history. A recent survey from McAfee found that 71% … Continue reading →

Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

We live in a world of technology. We are constantly bombarded with the latest and greatest of everything. They even make cell phones for toddlers to call mom and dad now. With the constant growth in technology it is important to educate your children about staying safe online. Children who are educated about internet safety are much more likely to take precautions to stay safe than those who aren’t. The dangers of the online world are rampant. There are predators lurking around every corner, waiting for them to make a mistake. Talk to your children about the importance of staying … Continue reading →

Be Aware of Online Dangers

In my last blog I talked about a story that was on Dr. Phil’s show this week “Ask about the Internet.” It was about a man who had been deceived by a woman he met online. Well this show had another segment that emphasized other types of online dangers. This was about a 17-year-old girl who was the victim of a false Facebook profile that was set up. Someone had created a Facebook page that was supposed to be of her which included nude photographs. Now these nude pictures weren’t really of her but the idea that others would think … Continue reading →

Internet Kids: Too Much Time Online?

If you think your kids are spending too much time on the computer, well then you are not alone. According to a 2007 annual report from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future, more and more parents are frustrated by the Internet sucking up too much much time from their children. The numbers reveal that 33 percent of all parents surveyed are worried, up from a mere 11 percent a few years ago. Kids today conduct whole lives online, and it seems that we are always encouraging them. Take for instance the fact that more … Continue reading →

Parents Need to Monitor Teens Online Usage

Teens these days are familiar with the Internet, they use it to buy gifts, do research, and also find friends. That is where the problem lies. Many teens reveal personal information like their name, address, school, age, phone number, photographs, and other personal details. While the Internet is an incredible tool, if used wisely, it is also a breeding ground for child predators, who frequent sites primarily focused towards teens and children. But the greatest danger doesn’t lie in the child predators but in the peer groups that teenagers and tweens are finding on-line. Peer groups that support drug use, … Continue reading →

The epidemic of online child sexual crimes

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The issue of keeping children safe from online child predators has steadily increased over the past few years. From newspapers (e.g., New York Times) to news journal shows (e.g., Dateline NBC) to popular daytime shows (e.g., Oprah), the topic has been discussed. I am amazed, however, at the number of parents, teachers, and adults who still think that the epidemic of online predators is not really an important issue. Yes, that’s right. I call it an epidemic. Thousands of children each year worldwide are solicited and even abducted as a result of participating in unmonitored online activities. It’s time for … Continue reading →

Beware of Catfishing

Are you familiar with catfishing?  If you are a parent, then you need to be.  And no, this isn’t a lesson on fishing for catfish, nor is it a recap of what I recently saw on “Duck Dynasty.” Catfishing is when someone takes on a false identity online and ropes some unsuspecting person into a relationship.  Probably the most familiar story of recent is the linebacker from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Manti Te’o. It’s been all over the news.  How he apparently was in a relationship with a young woman online and she died from cancer.  Turns out she … Continue reading →

Knowledge Is Power When It Comes to Drugs

It used to be that it was easy to know the types of drugs that teens might try. But gone are the days of that. Now you hear about kids getting high on everyday products. Or you hear about a new substance that while it isn’t illegal, it can still produce the same effects such as may be found in marijuana. So for parents it can be difficult to keep up on the latest trends. In the past I have blogged about some of these things—including spice, digital drugs and salvia. But as much as I try to keep updated, … Continue reading →

Dangerous Websites for Teens

I saw a report a couple of weeks ago regarding dangerous websites that teens are visiting. One of them is called “Formspring,” which is actually a social media outlet that allows members to ask and respond to anonymous questions. The problem with this website is that it also promotes cyber-bullying. Vicious notes can be sent anonymously. This opens the door to all kinds of bullying like obscene language, derogatory comments and other unkind ways of interacting. I wanted to personally look more into this website but it required signing up and I wasn’t quite ready for that. However it is … Continue reading →